Conveying mechanism for canning machines



March 24, 1925. 1 1,530,517

A. K. RARIG CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR CANNING MACHINES Filed May 1, 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Q ELM/WM toiz Alexander K302 Gum/1m;

' Whirch 24, 1925.

A. K. RARIG CONVEYING MECHANISM FOFCANNING MACHINES Filed May 1, 1924 4sa as-sheet 2 March 24, 1925.

, A. K. RARIG CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR CANNING MACHINES Filed May 1, 1924'4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fllmndri i March 24;1'925.

A. K. RARiG CONVEYING MECHANISM FOR (TANNING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed May 1, 1924 ulllllfmm tail. except with reference to certainparts. hereinafter mentioned. in connection with which the conveyor isdesigned to cooperate. lhe cham er 1 provided at one side with an inletll and at its opposite side with an outlet. 4, and arranged within thehamber 1 is a stationary platform .3 cXtciuli lL across said chamberbetween said in et airl outlet. The containers to be introduced into thevacuinu chamber are fed thcreiuto l v means of an injector alve device(3. and after such contaiut are vacuumizced and sealed. by means of thedouble seaming machine 2. they are discharged through the outlet 4through the action of a primary discharge feed device or ejector,hereinaf er described. and a coactina ejector valve derice 7. The valvedevices 6 and 7 are of a. suitable typefor transferrinc the containerswhile at the same time sealing the inlet and discharge openings of thevacuum chamber against los of vacuum. They may he. of any suitable type.su h as that shown in my application for patent exec ted of even dateherewith, Serial No 3.17.7 37. or of the type shown in my applicationfor patent also executed of even date herewith, Serial No. 707.758. orof any other suitable type. As these inje tor and ejector valves arenot, so far as their specifi constru tions are concerned, essential orimportant to the disclosure of the present invention. a detaileddescription thereof. is unnecessary. They are driven in practice fronramain drive shaft 8 by shafts 9 in gear with the main drive shaft andwith con'iponent shafts of the injector and ejector 'alves.

The. platform may form part of a frame structure 10 supporting thedouble seamer 2 and the elements of the conveying mechanism arrangedwithin the vacuum chamber. Such conveying me-hauism comprises an endlesschain conveyor 11 arranged to travel around guide sprockets 12 looselymounted on vertical shafts 13. The conveyor chain is arranged so thatits stretches are d spos d in the same horizontal plane and the workingstretch ll of this chain. which extends across the chamber 1 from sideto side thereof, extends parallel with the plat.- form 5 and with theline of feed of the containers moved thereby between the inlet 3 andoutlet 4. .\n idle sprocket 15. prefer ably of adjustable type. providedto engage the inactive or r turu stretch 1(3 of the chain for guiding:the sanuin its movements and mainlainiug the chair as a whole taut. Thechain is made up of pivotally connected link plates and rollers. and isprovided at determined intervals with container engaging and feedfingers or flights 17 adapted as they become a part of the workingstretch of the chain to extend laterally therefrom and overhang theplatform 5, each finger being attached by a bracket 18 to adjacent andpivot. members of the chain. These fingers or flights may be of anysuitable form to engag the containers if ut are preferably substantiallyV-shaped to adapt them for engaging containersof different(lltllll(l('l.-. As each container is introduced through the inlet bvthe injector valve (3 it is en graced by a finger or "light ii andshifted by a continuous ill "lt=.- l.l motion of the conveyor along theplatform 5 from the inlet. 3 to a point in whi h it is in position to eacted on b the working elements of the scanning machine 2. during whichtime the action of the conveyor is arrest d. and at the onclus n ofwhich the conveyor again starts into motion and similarly shifts the.container by a continuou single-stage motion along the platform 5 fromthe seaming point to the outlet 4 for discharge. -\t all times duringtheir f ed motion. and except at the time a hen they ate acted upon bythe working elements of the seaming machine 2. the containers rest uponthe platform 5 and are slid along said platform by the flights 17 of theendless conveyor. By thus shifting the containers b su cessiveintermittent single-stage n'iotions from the inlet to the seamingmachine, and from the latter to the outlet. the time period of travel ofthe containers and number of working actions of the conveyor mechanismare reduced, allowing a larger number of containers to be operated uponwithin any given time and avoiding a multiplicity of starting andStopping actions causing jolts and jars and objectionable wear and tearupon the machinery.

In the use of the invention in connection with a vacuumizing machine, asherein shown. it is'to be understood that the containers are firsttilled b a suitable fillin; machine, and the lids or covers looselyapplied by a suitable lid-applyin; machine, before being engaged and fedby the injector valve (3 into the vacuum 1. In this chamber 1 thecontainers are vacuumized on their travel from the inlet 3 to theseaming device. which seaming" device then tightly closes andhermetically seals the vacuumized containers. after which the 'acuumizedsealed containers are discharged through the outlet 4. As herein shown.the working" parts of the double seamer consist of a rotary containersupporting platform 20 having. a beveled edge normally titted again trotation in a r ceiving opening 21 in the platform the wall of whi 'h iscorrespondingly beveled. Depending from this table/is a stemZiZjournaled in a bearing re cess 9 s in a vertically movable 0st orstandard 24 normally held depresse and adapted to be automaticallvretracted by a spring 25 and to be elevated against the resistance ofthe spring by an actuating lever 26. Provided for cooperation withtherotary platdege'mt f rm is 21 Chuck 2'! wliielireceives atid fen("loses the ugper portimigot' thecontainer when elevated by the"platform 20, with winch chuck-coasts" ,a vertically movable "ejectei 28and suite-bly'clriven seaming rolls 29,.the ejector being movabledownwardly to release the segmedend oi the container from the chuck 27it the conclusion of the seaming operation A 30 is provided foreushioning the downwerd movement of the ejectoi 28 under the action 01? alever 31, and assisting 111 retracting it, and a rod 32 couples the lexei s'i6 end 31'fo1' operating the post 2% and ejector 28 in unison, thelever QSbeing operated by certain Werking parts of the machinenotnecessar'y -t0pl0e described, The cont-nine? hiought into position toret upon the table QO'by the mo tion of the "conveyor- 11 elevated bythe upward movement of tl efpostffz, bringing the upper end of the;container into the chuck 27, which is :zglriv'en v suitable mearis toimpart rotarymotion to tile contiiine i during which the 's ea'lir'ig'aetlon' lS Bfi GCtB d" by the seaming rollers 29; In this upiiaidmovement, oftiae container in engagelilent with the chu'ek 2? theejector 28 'is tort-ml upward and assists ifl-to cing the coiit-ainer,lid (l0\.fl tight for thefs'enling; action, and

the platform '20 being released from the openingfQl 1s treeIIZO'I'QQVOYIVVQ y'ith the container through the, motion 'ot' ts stem-22m the sock-eh 23. 7 At the conclusion 'of the- -se21ming operation, thepost 2413 depressed,

again bringing the platform 20 clow ipto the socketh'fllflin which it iswedged from co tation, and the ejectof 28 is ftfi'tKlIlOWU- Ward todisplace the seemed end of the com tainer from the olmelc il as will bereadily model-stood. During this seaming operztt-km, as stated, theconveyor ren'minfs at ret,ll iil1 at the end of siich opf-rzitioii' themotionlef' the conveyoris resumed and the sealed 011 en m'e the properand accurate placing of the container on fillftfllllf) 20; the bracket mmber, 18 of each feed fingrer or. flight 17 is 'pnwided with a guide-i'il "35 to engage u guide gz 'rcfl'nie'm ijecese 36 foimcd in thecentral lmrt-ion of the platt'ormfi, whereby the central mrtum orwm'irking' Stl'QtClIOf tiieclminis guided and. ositively held fromopenings :38 and at the opposite side- 'being e 'minged dizin eti'icullyoppositereac 1 other zl idpqu u'zdently spaced. An o'penip limit anddowel piiij tl e sp oirk'et Wheel may j :tlie mllu' 3? and therebyfixedyqitli the col; 9 Y

adjustable flfillIlQCtlOIl .lletweenv the sprocket shifted on the collarand with-.r el.ationr,tb

other? \v 'mle, "to advance o r retard them "This w'rneiructikm adaptsone a nd't-he same cq ml in nuizdmr to mgch other but arranged inwarddefiectioilbytlic drive sprocket llllle sprocket 33 lo(' s 1el txoiintedon 1b; 1 shaft and is adjnstably connected with! tleiigedgcollm' 37keyed to said elmft. flange of this 01111;- 37 is provided atflo negside of'it; cen'teiy vitliii series oftln'eedeL is' provided 11; oneside of the-centel ottli sprocket 33 i'oiytlie passage of a scrmvboltopenings 38, while the "lmliof tl e sprocket/lieu" i3 pI'OYlClQCl at'itsop ioeile .side vitli a ,dqveel; pinei adapted for engagement ,Wllililanym, (meet the dowel seats 39, lv'y meaneet Whichljre fixed in':idesircd ,1 adjusted .nositiopjq let for rotation with. the Sl ul't 3 1By, the

$3 and the collar 3T tl1llS afforded, the; sprocket wheel nm yflbeeuwrmnfcrentialb the shaft 3 fort-he CPUFPQSO of adjusting the clx' in.11 torwardly or bnclgvvardly fl in;

lion oftlie -chain, gu dfthus eguinte itsfeed .21 ing action withi'espect't o theftnble QIO' IanQ -M 27 of the scu ninfz mechanism;there,

for properly. feeding and seaming izolitainensidw o l ,dillei'cnb.:dimneim's; with relationwto, the aforesaid pm'ts- 01 ill eraeznning iiiechanisi'nflni cunievoii to he empl wjlfxl byuPsiniple'adjiist I Imenl .vcquu'ipg' :1 ii-2111mm 'mnwmt otztime l'm'iced]ugcontanxersof different diameter-e b Mean iiiy agoni- 55mcshii'imwith abpinion 56 on the main drive 'slmlt 8, wherebythe'shafii' M is positively driven and rotated c0ntinuously in onedirection. Fixed to the shaft :31 or to the disk is a crank arm 7provided with a pin or stud 58 adapted to successively engage the radialslots 47 of the disk 46 and to ride in and out of said slots in therotation of the crank arm 57, whereby the disk -16 is positively engagedand turned a certain distance by the pin 58 and then released by thewithdrawal of the pin 58 from the slot. 47 with which it has been en-;iaged. The disk 50 has a portion of its periphery cut away or recessed.as at 59, and when this cut away or recessed portion of said disk facesthe disk 48, during which time the stud :78 is in engagement with one ofthe slots 4?, the disks 46 and 48 are free to be rotated. At all othertimes the unreduced peripheral portion of disk 50 is adapted to engageone or the other of the seat recesses 41) of disk 48 successively to lok the parts as. 48 and 43 against rotary motion between intervals ofperiodic motion of said parts by engagement of the stud with thesuccessive slots 47 of disk 46. Hence it will be seen that during aportion of each revolution of the disk 50 the stud 48 will engage one ofthe slots 47 and impart a part revolution to the disk 46 and through thesame to the gear -13 and from said gear to the shaft '34 to impart aprescribed feed. motion to the chain 11, in which operation another slot47 is brought into position for the subsequent periodic motion, thetransmission elements of the Geneva wheel motion and the conveyor chainbeing locked against motion during their intervals of rest so that anypossible shifting of the same out of position will be prevented. Therange of motion of the conveyor from the Geneva wheel mechanism on eachactuation thereof may be suflicient to transfer a container,

from the inlet 3 to the elements of the seaming mechanisi'n, and thepreceding container from the latter period of rest of the conveyormechanism is made in practice just sufficient to permit the containerwhich is to be seamed to be operated upon by the double seamer, as willbe readily understood. During the transmission of the container from theinlet 3 to the seaming mechanism and until it is sealed by the latter,the container is subjected to the vacumnizing action within the chamber1, whereby a thorough vacuumization prior to final sealing is effected.

The primary discharge l'ecd device or ejector. hereinbefore referred to,for transferring the containers from the platform 5 to the ejector valve7, comprises a horizontally disposed circular disk fixed on the verticalshaft 1 located at the delivery side of the machine. This shaft isdriven continuously in onedirection, for imparting continuous rotarymotion to said disk, by a sprocket chain 61 engaging sprocket to theoutlet 4, and the time wheels (32 and ($3 on the said shaft 13 and theshaft 51, respectively. The disk forms a horizontally rotatable deliveryplatform 1 sets in a segmental recess in the platform 5, flush with theupper surface of said platform, and extends through the outlet 4- into athroat or assage leading to the inlet of valve 7, said throat beingnormally sealed by said valve against leaka e. The function of this diskis to cover t 1e gap between the ejector valve and the container feedingflight at the delivery end of the conveyor, and to effect a smooth,even, regular and rapid movement of the containers, without injurythereto, across said gap and into the ejector valve casin for discharge.The ejector valve may (eliver the vacunmized and sealed containers toreceptacle or to a conveyor leading to a desired destination point.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,it will be seen that he invention provides an intermittently operatedconveying mechanism for the purpose described which is simple ofconstruction and of a type ensuring efiiciency and reliability inaction, and which is composed of parts not liable to easily get out oforder. Also it will be seen that the conveyor in its operation transfersthe container on a direct line across the chamber 1 between the inlet 3and outlet 4, during which they successively pass hetween and are actedupon by the elements of the seaming mechanism, whereby a short range oftravel for the containers is provided. It will also be seen that thecontainers, during their feed motion, rest upon the platform 5 and areshifted along said platform in such a way asto obviate'all liability ofjamming, spilling of their contents or injury to the containersthemselves or the marring of their surfaces. By the provision of themeans for effecting and advancing or retarding adjustment of theconveyor 11, it will be evident that the conveyor action may beregulated to operate upon containers of different diameters and toproperly time their working feed and center them with relation to theworking parts of the seaming mechanism. In practice a suitable opening,or hand hole closed by a hand-hole plate or cover, may be. provided inthe chamber 1 to permit convenient access to be obtained to the partsfor various pin-poses, and to admit of the adjustment ol' the sprocketwheel 33 for the purpose described in an easy manner and within acomparatively short period.

While the invention has been shown and described for use in vacuumizingmachines. in connection with which it is particularly designed andadapted, it is to be understood that it is not restricted in usethereto, but may be employed in other types of apparatus in which a feedmotion of the same a suitable shelf or' loo it is to he understood thntthe iivcntion-isi not restricted in use except when particularly rcstzictcd in; specified in certnniol the appended claims. I

"Having, thus fully ,(icscrihcd -in v invcn-i character. is to heinnployed. and accordingly tion, I claim:

1-. In .Ineohanisni-for shifting containers from e receiving;positiontfi tt work device and from n work define to :1 discharge positi oinn'sthl'h'mn-i' platform: extending) hetwccn said positions janci pilotsnidgwoi'lc. do vicc t an endless chain conveyor liming its. stretchesarranged; in. the. same horizontal plane "nmlhovingdts' norlzin'gstretch lflO-i nhic in :1 plane parallel with-tho ph 'ttorin,iingc1=soii=the conveyor opcrntive when he- 7 comingn .pzii of the whrhing stretch of said stretch extending form "neckingstretch n-mndeflection nn conveyor to; extend over success nlnt'l'on'ng means forintermittently opeiating t'hc 'comeyo r so itsto' nthiptezich finger toengage iin'd-oii' successive straightline motion posit-iionxto' thc'work'tl'evice and from the work device to thedischerge position with aninterval "of rest between such-motions;

flush nvith the' platform for receiving the containers therefrom onthe'final working inotion of the fingers anti siid'ahly shiftingfi saidcontainers" to a delivery point beyond thei'cinoteend of the platform. iv 23inmechanismjfor shifting; containers from a. rccci v ing' positionto. it work device iind from the work device to n; discharge position, astntionnr platform, an endless chitin coi'weyorhaving its stretchesnrrangeci in the 'snme' ialanc and hnvin v itsf'working parai-ich withthe platsaid con veyo'r' opemtivleh'de" a container-"from the receivingiori'zhntnliy i rotntethle feeder'nrranged form and provi ieclwithfingers g" the 4 Hi0]Mix- 111C811?![i lSlll for intermittently open=ning the conveyor inclnding n gczufland a shalt on n'vhich the gear ISncl ustnhl fi mounted and to which ."iidgcar is adapted to he fixed,wherebythe conveyor may he :ulvanccdor retarded in its working ino tionfor ccntgning containers of di ii'ci'cnt,

siizes with l'c'lnt ionto the work Crevice, sziitl gear being arrangedto engage a surface Lot'the wni-liing stretch of the chain opposite the\\'o1'.k" ievice, incnns for guiding the worhing$tretch of the chain:onti holding it from deflection under prc'ssnrc of the gear.nhori'zontaliy momma feeder tying tiush withthe delivery 'eml ottheplatform for receiving and conveying the contnincrs therefrom, and inczns fol continuously drivingsnicl feedeiz' v 4 In nicchniiisni forfccdingcontainers from a receiving position to n :n'ork tie-i vice and ifl'nnthe Workdevice to ii tiis+ charge positioin v'stationnry on.opposite"sides of said work device, an"

-veyo1 liavingiai -working stretch extending niongionesitieof andpzuinl-lel with't he lat I extending for cngngmg and -feedover the pie'tfori'n j ing thecontainers clone the platform fiQl'Il the inlet totheWork-device and from said wot device to'the outlet, 7 ingn 'drivegear-engaging the working "WOT; "device for iinpz'irtiii'g intermittentintermittently n' ovnhlc endless chain con strefich of the chain in' thei 'egion of then' t frnineivoi k including a" phittoi-m extendingbeneath and.

means inclndfeed niotion to said chain, means for Ida g jnsliing s-ixiligealh fdii; etlvz'incing 01* retarding'the conveyor chain; region of thegeer-nnd ho1ding- -it 'froin" gear; .,1. v l

' 5. 1n mechanism i'OY ShLi' ilIIS containers across 213 chnmhcrirony-yin inie inc cicle of the cinnnhcr tonn'ontletnt i diametricallyopposite sitie thereof kind past a work sand chn'nihcr hetn' een (icvicecciisposcci in.

laterahkieflection under pressure of -and-mmris'for g'nid inti'theworlnng'stretch{of the (hh'lfl 'in' the "SM-f -'nlet' and iiitlet-,.n stationary phtt-forin H ex linebeneath the work i vice. 21nd acrossthe chamber; for fiiiiizliliyf, siipporh 'ing'thc' containers for ieetlmotion, endicsseonveyor having a working stretch ex? tending iiiong'one side of snidplntforin and."

'pm'nlleiiherewith and provided with iingers p'rojccting'over saidplatform for en gzwing and transmitting sliding motion to thecontainers, said Working stretch of the chain being arranged to transmitthe con: tniners by successive continuous single-stage substantiallystraight-linemotions respectively fromthe inlet to the'work device andfrom the work device to the outlet, it drive gear engaging the Workingstretch of the chain at a point substantially intransverse alinementwith the Work device, means For guidin the working stretch of the, hainand holding it from deflection under the ltt' 'mfiul't" of said gear.and mechaniwn ol' which .-aid drive gea! tome a put tor in ermittent iva t eat in said conveyor chain tor imparting the successive continuoussub-taiuially streiu'htdine l'ecd motions described with a dwell oriuterruptirn of motion between th mine. during which dwell orinterruption of motion the container fed up by the tir t-namcdsinulestaa'e substantially 1r.-ii;1'ht-liu motion is acted upon bv thework device.

(5. In me hanism for shitting containers b tw en the inlet ot' a hamberand a workin; d virearranged ilttl'-i!l and between said working deviand th outlet of the banibi-iu an intermittentl movable endless ronvevort'or ltt lillg' containers from the inlet to the working d vi e andtroiu the latter to the outlet. m ans tor interinitti-ntly actuating;-said eon-.e vor. and a ontinuourdy rotatable l'eed (ll. l\ located adjaent to'said outlet and driven independently of said convevor t'orreceiving the ontainers from the eonve vor and i'eedingz the same.through the outlet.

T. in mechanism for shifting containers between the inlet of a chamberand a workng device arranged therein and between aid working device andthe outlet of the lcunber. an intermittently operable endless.

chain convevor having a continuously straight workilm stretch forshifting containers from the inlet to the working device and from thelatter to the outlet, an intermittci'itiy movable drive gear engagingthe rear surface of such working stretch of the chain conveyor in linewith the working device. a stationary guide member, and means on theconveyor chain for engagement with said culidc member For guiding theworking stretch of the. conveyor and holding it from deflection underthe pressure of the drive gear. I

In mechanism for shifting containers between the inlet of a chamber anda workiue' device arranged therein and between said w rking device andthe outlet of the charm her, an intermittently operable endless chainconveyor having a continuously straight working: stretch for shiftingcontainers from the inlet to the working, device and from the latter tothe outlet. a rotary disk l'eeder located adjac nt to the outlet forshitting the containers trout the delivery end of the plattorm throughthe outlet, an intermittently movable drive gear engaging the rear surfae Otsucl'i working; stretch of the chain conveyor in line with theworking device, and means for guiding the working, stretch of theconveyor and holding it from deflection under the pressure of the drivegear.

9. In mechanism for shifting containers between the inlet of a chamberand a working device arranged therein and between said working deviceand the outlet of'the chamber, an intermittently operable endless chainconveyor for shifting the containers from the inlet to the workingdevice and from the. latter to the outlet, and a continuously rotatablehorizontally disposed circular l'ced disk for receiving the containersfrom the conveyor and delivering them through the outlet.

10. In mechanism for shifting containers between the inlet of a chamberand a wor ing. device arranged therein and between said workin; deviceand the outlet of the chamber. a platform, an intermittently operableendless conveyor provided with fingers for engaging and slidablyshifting the containers along said platform from the inlet to theworking device and thence to the out let. a Geneva wheel mechanism forintermittratilv operating said conveyor, 3. continuously rotatable feeddevice for receivin the containers from the delivery ends the platformand the conveyor and discharging thesame through the outlet, said feeddevice extending partially beneath the delivery end of the conveyor, andmeans independent of said Geneva wheel mechanism for operating saidrotatable feed device.

11. In mechanism for shifting containers between the inlet of a chamberand a working device arranged therein and between said working deviceand the outlet of the chamber, an intermittently operable endlessconveyor having a working stretch operative for shifting the containersfrom the inlet/t0 the working device and thence to the outlet, a drivesprocket engaging said working stretch of the chain, means for adjustingsaid drive sprocket for advancing or re tat-ding the motion of thechain, a stationary guide. means on the chain engageable with said guidefor holding the working stretch of the chain from deflection underpressure from said drive sprocket, and 21. Geneva wheel mechanism forintermittently actuating said drive sprocket.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

A iEXANDER K. RARIG.

